TORONTO, ON (July 16, 2017) – For the second day in a row, Canadian Parker Thompson guided his Exclusive Autosport Tatuus USF-17 to a hard-won victory in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Toronto Presented by Allied Building Products.

The native of Red Deer, Alb., was assisted on this occasion by an incident which eliminated the top three contenders, including Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda points leader Oliver Askew. Thompson then had to work hard to keep fellow teenager Rinus VeeKay, from The Netherlands, behind him.

Also for the second successive day, Pabst Racing’s VeeKay earned an extra championship point for posting the fastest lap of the race. He now trails Askew by only 18 points with just three races remaining this season.

Kaylen Frederick, 15, from Potomac, Md., also impressed for Team Pelfrey, claiming the Tilton Hard Charger Award as he rose from 13th on the grid to third at the checkered flag.

Askew started from the pole for Cape Motorsports, having posted a new qualifying lap record yesterday, but came under pressure immediately from fellow front row qualifier David Malukas (BN Racing). When the two leaders both left their braking a fraction too late and slid wide in Turn Three, Anglo-Frenchman Alex Baron (ArmsUp Motorsports) was perfectly positioned to take advantage and advance from third to first in one fell swoop. Askew continued in second, but Malukas was determined to use his pace to its fullest effect.

Thompson and VeeKay also were in close attendance as the five leaders edged clear of Team Pelfrey’s Robert Megennis and the remainder of the field. Malukas snuck past Askew for second place in Turn Eight on Lap Four, and immediately began to put the pressure on Baron, who was turning consistent laps at the front of the pack.

Malukas drew alongside Baron several times on the drag race along Lake Shore Boulevard, only for Baron to ensure he held the preferred inside line under braking for Turn Three. Finally, on the ninth lap, Baron slipped a little wide at the exit, whereupon Malukas dived for the inside as they accelerated uphill out of the hairpin before making contact with the rear of Baron’s car and spinning him around. A close-following Askew also was involved.

Thompson and VeeKay managed to avoid the spinning cars and inherited the top two positions as the Safety Car was deployed to clear the track.

Thompson romped clear at the restart to claim his third win in two years on the streets of Exhibition Place just a few miles from downtown Toronto, while VeeKay charged hard to close the gap and finished just 0.6379 second in arrears.

Frederick charged through to seventh prior to the caution and, despite losing a position to Devin Wojcik (ArmsUp Motorsports) soon after the restart, quickly regrouped and continued his forward progress to finish fourth.

Darren Keane (Newman Wachs Racing), from Parkland, Fla., also drove a fine race, raising from 11th on the grid to fourth ahead of Megennis and Wojcik, who claimed a season-best sixth.

Askew leads the championship with 283 points to VeeKay’s 265 as the USF2000 contenders head next to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for another double-header event on July 28-30.

Parker Thompson (#91 Exclusive Autosport Openhwy): “I’m surprised I still have a voice! What a feeling, to get two in ‘TO’ in front of the Canadian fans! I’d say this is unbelievable, but it’s past that now and into its own new realm. I knew I had the pace so I hung back to let things string out before I attacked. I saw the three of them lock up so I backed off and I had just enough of a gap to squeeze through. And after yesterday, I was really calm on the restart. I had my team owner, Michael Duncalfe, talking to me on the radio keeping me prepared, so I just got a good jump on the restart and worked to keep Rinus behind me the rest of the way. The Exclusive Autosport crew has done such a great job – to take two wins, two poles and multiple podiums in their first season on the Mazda Road to Indy is outstanding. We’re only getting stronger.”

Rinus VeeKay (#21 Jumbo Supermarkets The Netherlands/Total-Pabst Racing): “My first thought when I saw what was happening to the guys ahead of me was to not get in there, to just go around and stay on track. Once we went green, I had a good restart and I wanted to pass Parker for the points, but Robert had a great restart and he was right on my gearbox. I had to defend, and there was some wheel-banging, and that let Parker get away. I had the speed, getting the quick lap late in the race, but I got the most points I could and that’s what’s important. But I have to say, if I couldn’t win here, I am happy that Parker won.”

About USF2000: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly-regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR and managed by Andersen Promotions, the series is the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder system. The top driver in the Championship class will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires the following year. Additional information can be found at www.usf2000.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of innovative, great-performing tires that you can count on to last for thousands of miles, getting you where you need to go, and back again. Cooper is proud to be the spec tire for all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires, a development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also be seen on the track as a sponsor in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design operations in more than one dozen countries around the world. To connect with Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

But, in storybook style, all the pieces fell into place today on home soil in the first of two races this weekend which comprise the Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Toronto Presented by Allied Building Products. Thompson, 19, who claimed an emotional victory last year on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place, rediscovered that form today as he led throughout an all-green 30-minute race to secure his first win of the season.

Oliver Askew, from Jupiter, Fla., extended his championship lead for the Cape Motorsports team by finishing second ahead of his closest title rival, Dutchman Rinus VeeKay (Pabst Racing), who snared the bonus point for fastest race lap in the closing stages.

After a particularly difficult time last Sunday on the Iowa Speedway oval, Thompson and the team regrouped this week and were determined to put on a good showing in their native Canada. Thompson delivered in spades. He qualified on the pole yesterday afternoon – a first for Exclusive Autosport – and made a perfect getaway at the rolling start to lead from Askew, VeeKay and Kaylen Frederick (Team Pelfrey).

The top three positions remained unchanged throughout the 25-lap, 30-minute race, but there was plenty of action in their wake. Firstly, a mistake by Frederick while under pressure from David Malukas (BN Racing) saw him collect the wall in Turn Eight. Malukas then closed quickly on the leading trio and managed to sneak past VeeKay for third place in Turn Eight before a broken camber bolt in his rear suspension ended another promising day after just nine laps.

Mexico City’s Jose Sierra drove an impressive race for DEForce Racing to finish fourth on his debut and snag the Staubli Award. Sierra profited when a close-following Calvin Ming (Pabst Racing), from Guyana, and Frenchman Alex Baron (ArmsUp Motorsports) collided at Turn Three while Baron was trying to make a pass. Robert Megennis also was in the mix for Team Pelfrey before clipping the wall in Turn Six and breaking his Tatuus USF-17's suspension.

Brazilian Lucas Kohl thereby inherited fifth place, which earned him the Tilton Hard Charger Award having lined up 12th on the starting grid.

Baron recovered to sixth ahead of teammate Devin Wojcik, who survived two scrapes with the wall in the closing stages. Both picked up two positions after Moises de la Vara (DEForce Racing) was penalized for overly defensive driving.

The PFC Award went to winning car owner Michael Duncalfe following his team’s maiden USF2000 victory.

A separate qualifying session earlier this morning saw Askew snare the pole position for tomorrow’s 11th round of the 14-race season with a new lap record of 1:12.2192 (89.029 mph). The green flag is slated for 9:40 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning. Live timing and live streaming will be available on the series website, usf2000.com, as well as on indycar.com and the Road To Indy TV App and RoadToIndy.TV.

Parker Thompson (#91 Exclusive Autosport Openhwy): “When the checkered flag came out, the emotions were just so high – I was screaming, so I apologize to anybody on my radio channel. This win tops anything I’ve done this year. It’s extremely hard to win in this series and I think I took a few wins for granted last year, but to have the team behind me here is so emotional. They are so invested in winning so to get the job done for them and get our first win together feels so good. It’s been a testing season – Exclusive Autosport is new to the Mazda Road to Indy so we knew we had a tough challenge against some very dominant teams. But coming into our home race, we were very confident. I know I’m fast here and I knew we had a great street course setup from St. Pete and the team did what they do best: they gave me a great race car and I drove it well to take the win. I can’t thank them enough!”

Oliver Askew (#3 Mazda Motorsports/MC Racing-Cape Motorsports): “I was a tenth quicker than Parker but with the track having such low grip, it’s hard to pass. There’s aero loss at other tracks but here it’s magnified because it’s so slick. I couldn’t do anything because of the aero wash. You have to be so precise and get your turn-in points right and hit your marks. If you turn in too wide you’re going to completely lose the car. It’s demanding but I enjoy it – it’s a great challenge and it’s something different. I’ll have a better starting position tomorrow so I’ll be able to go for more points.”

About USF2000: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly-regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR and managed by Andersen Promotions, the series is the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder system. The top driver in the Championship class will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires the following year. Additional information can be found at www.usf2000.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of innovative, great-performing tires that you can count on to last for thousands of miles, getting you where you need to go, and back again. Cooper is proud to be the spec tire for all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires, a development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also be seen on the track as a sponsor in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design operations in more than one dozen countries around the world. To connect with Cooper, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/coopertire.

@parkertracing • @ExclAutosport • @IndyCar •@USF2000 •Red Deer, AB (January 20, 2017)- Parker Thompson will return for another season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda as part of an all-Canadian effort from first-year entrant Exclusive Autosport in the lowest rung of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder.

Thompson, who finished second in the USF2000 driver's championship in 2016, will return to the team that helped launch his racing career in race cars piloting Exclusive Autosport's No. 30 Mazda-powered Tatuus US-17.

"It has been a long time coming, signing Parker to a full-season program with Exclusive Autosport," team co-owner Michael Duncalfe said. "I am especially excited that he will be one of our drivers, a series veteran, leading the EA program in our inaugural season in the USF2000 championship/MRTI. I have the utmost respect for not only Parker's race craft, but also his work ethic on and off the track. I have never seen a driver work as hard as he does off the track on his racing program."

Thompson, an 18-year-old from Red Deer, Alberta, last raced for the team in Formula Tour F1600 in 2015, sweeping a weekend of racing at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec. Thompson drove in USF2000 for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2016, winning four races and finishing second to teammate Anthony Martin in the championship.

"This was easily one of the hardest offseasons I have had in my motorsport career, thus far," said Thompson. "I honestly didn't know if I was going to get behind the wheel of a race car in 2017, so when the opportunity arose to become a part of the EA organization, I was ecstatic.

"This is a dream team fit for myself, in a number of different ways. I met Michael when I was just 11 years old racing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at the Western Canadian Karting Championships. It just goes to show you what relationship-building can do for your career down the road."

@parkertracing • @USF2000 • @MazdaRacing •@CMwithWTR •RED DEER, ALBERTA (October 5, 2016) – After launching his car racing career with a solid rookie season in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2015, rising Canadian open wheel formula car star Parker Thompson returned to the first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy this year and certainly made a name for himself.

All eyes are now on the 18-year-old from Red Deer, Alberta after he scored four wins, led the series in podium finishes and most laps led, and came up just short of winning the championship. Parker continued to develop his racecraft, he showed poise and maturity beyond his years and, with another year of quality experience under his belt, he can look back at 2016 as an extremely positive step in his career.

“Overall, looking back on my 2016 USF2000 Championship, I have made some amazing memories,” Thompson offered. “Four wins, three poles and vice champion in the USF2000 Championship marks the best year I have had racing formula cars. With it being only my second year actually racing formula cars, for me to even be in contention for the championship is definitely something to be proud of. I can tell you one thing, finishing second this year will be great fuel in the off-season to build myself into something even better on and off the track. A huge thank you goes out to my family, supporters, partners and everyone apart of Cape Motorsport - I would be nowhere if I didn't have such an amazing group of people behind me that believe in my ability on and off the track.”

Parker scored his first career USF2000 victory in the opening race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama in April, and followed that triumph with a win in the second race of the doubleheader to sweep the weekend. He made a huge statement with the dominant performances, putting his name at the head of the class as one of the true up-and-coming young drivers in the sport. The 18-year-old backed up his first wins very quickly, garnering his third checkered flag during the series’ trip to the most famous racecourse in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parker won on the facility’s road course, adding his name to the track’s prestigious history books.

Thompson’s final win of the year was his most special, as he stood on the top of the podium at the Toronto Indy, scoring the victory on his home soil in Canada. Winning in his home country was an incredible feat and a tremendous moment in Parker’s young career.

At the season-end awards banquet, held in Monterey, California, Parker was honoured for several achievements, beginning with his position as the 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda Vice-Champion. En route to this result, Thompson scored the most podiums with 12 and led the most laps of all drivers (137). Thompson was also awarded with the Royal Purple Slickest Pass Award thanks to his daring overtaking maneuver on teammate Anthony Martin at Toronto where he drove around the outside of the leader heading down the long backstraight on Lakeshore Boulevard. It was a stellar season for the young Canadian, who is aiming for a career in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Parker’s season is not quite finished, however, as he was recently selected to represent his country as the driver for the Team Canada Scholarship program. Thompson will travel to England to compete in the world-renowned Formula Ford Festival at the iconic Brand Hatch in late October.

Parker was born and raised in Red Deer, Alberta and got behind the wheel of his first kart at the age of eight. He went from being a weekend warrior rolling a kart and toolbox in the back of a family half-ton in Calgary, to a championship-winning fixture in many of the world’s top karting events. In 2012, Parker was the first ever North American to make it to the podium in the Junior Rotax category at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portimao, Portugal where he was awarded the third ranking in the world. At the age of 14, Thompson went on to live in Italy, leaving family and friends behind to race in Europe full-time with the Energy Corse Factory team. This move helped accelerate his dream of becoming a professional racecar driver. He had a record-breaking season for a Canadian, producing results yet to be seen by a North American competing at the world stage in Europe. Currently, the accomplished 18-year-old looks to make it one step closer to his dream of a professional racecar driver and make the jump to racing formula cars. After finishing fifth overall in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda last year, for 2016, Thompson has signed a deal with championship-winning Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.

@parkertracing •@USF2000 • @Mid_Ohio •MANSFIELD, OHIO (August 4, 2016) – Just two weeks after his emotional victory on home soil in the only Canadian round of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, Parker Thompson returned to action at the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Mansfield, OH on July 29-31.

The 18-year-old Red Deer, Alberta resident entered the race with a 20-point lead in the championship standings, but was hit by some disappointingly bad luck in the first race of the tripleheader on the facility’s 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course. Thompson suffered a fluke puncture in his right front tire, sending him to the pit lane for a replacement while running second place on the racetrack.

Thompson’s teammate at Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing and his primary championship competition won the race, which was a huge hit to the young Canadian’s title aspirations. Parker fought back in the second two races with a pair of runner-up finishes, and he will now head to the season finale in California in early September with a 21-point deficit. The battle is on for the title and Parker is focused on coming home with the crown.

“Mid-Ohio was one of the hardest racing weeks I've had in my career,” Thompson admitted. “At the end of the day, racing is one of the most difficult sports in the world because of the fact that some things are out of the teams’ and drivers’ control. I came into Mid-Ohio with a 20-point lead, and I leave Mid-Ohio with a 21-point deficit after a flat tire in Race 1 and two second place finishes. You can be guaranteed, however, that I'll be coming out swinging at the USF2000 Championship Finale in September! I know first hand how fast 20 points can disappear on you. Now I just need some lady luck on my side!"

Thompson was quick out of the trailer during Thursday’s test day at Mid-Ohio (July 28), as he and the team worked to develop a fast set-up for his #2 Weyburn Energy Van Diemen. Parker turned in a strong run in qualifying on Friday morning, laying down the second fastest lap of the session to secure an outside front row starting spot for all three races of the weekend’s tripleheader.

In the opening race on Friday afternoon, Parker got a strong start and slotted in behind his teammate Anthony Martin to sit second, beginning what he expected to be a race-long battle for the win. However, midway through the 30-minute timed race, Thompson felt the handling on his car go quickly awry, the result of track debris puncturing his right front Cooper tire. Thankfully, Parker used his tremendous skill to keep the car on-track, although he was forced to limp back to pit lane to replace the damaged Cooper tire. The Cape Motorsports team changed the tire as quickly as possible, but Parker lost a lap in the pits and returned to finish 17th. The level of competition in the USF2000 is incredibly high, and a result such as this was extremely damaging to his position in the points. Parker has been the model of consistency all year, and this fluke damage has put him in a tough spot heading the season finale.

The second two events of the weekend saw Parker challenge his teammate for the race wins, but they were so evenly matched that Thompson was not able to get close enough to seriously challenge with an overtaking attempt. Wisely, the Canadian did not risk a low-percentage move and posted a pair of second place finishes. This will now put the spotlight on the USF2000 season finale on September 9-11.

Ahead of that important weekend, Parker will get a five-week break before heading to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, the spiritual home of Mazda, for the last race on the schedule for the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. The race is a doubleheader and with the current point standings as they are, Parker will have a laser-focus on scoring every point possible to win the series championship.

About Parker Thompson:Parker was born and raised in Red Deer, Alberta and got behind the wheel of his first kart at the age of eight. He went from being a weekend warrior rolling a kart and toolbox in the back of a family half-ton in Calgary, to a championship-winning fixture in many of the world’s top karting events. In 2012, Parker was the first ever North American to make it to the podium in the Junior Rotax category at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portimao, Portugal where he was awarded the third ranking in the world. At the age of 14, Thompson went on to live in Italy, leaving family and friends behind to race in Europe full-time with the Energy Corse Factory team. This move helped accelerate his dream of becoming a professional racecar driver. He had a record-breaking season for a Canadian, producing results yet to be seen by a North American competing at the world stage in Europe. Currently, the accomplished 18-year-old looks to make it one step closer to his dream of a professional racecar driver and make the jump to racing formula cars. After finishing fifth overall in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda last year, for 2016, Thompson has signed a deal with championship-winning Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.

@USF2000 •@MazdaRacing •PALMETTO, Fla. – The balance of power in this year’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda – step one on the acclaimed Mazda Road to Indy which provides Mazda scholarships to assist talented drivers in moving from the grassroots of the sport to the Verizon Indy Car Series and the Indianapolis 500 – shifted during the two most recent races.

Wisconsin-based Pabst Racing had grasped the early initiative by dominating the opening two rounds in St. Petersburg, Fla., despite that being home territory for perennial force Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. But the Cape team bounced back with a vengeance at Barber Motorsports Park as 18-year-old Parker Thompson, from Red Deer, Alb., Canada, scored a well-deserved maiden victory in Race One, then repeated the following day to wrest away the advantage.

“It feels great to have taken over the points lead, especially given the circumstances of how far back we were headed into Alabama,” said Thompson, who qualified strongly in St. Petersburg but experienced some difficulty in the races. “There is still a very long way to go in the championship, so consistency will be key headed into the midway point of the season. I know my competitors will be coming back stronger than ever but I think together with Cape Motorsports we will be in the hunt for wins at the Indianapolis Grand Prix. I do enjoy the Indy GP circuit. It is fairly simple at a first glance, but when you start racing on it you realize that it is probably the toughest circuit for race craft on our calendar because of the draft.”

Only three drivers have finished among the top 10 in all four races held to date, and none has been more consistent than fellow second-year USF2000 competitor Luke Gabin. The native of Perth, Australia, has guided his JAY Motorsports Van Diemen-Mazda to four consecutive top-five results, highlighted by second place in the most recent race. Gabin, who in 2014 won a Skip Barber/Mazda Scholarship to move up into USF2000, currently lies second in the points chase, 11 markers shy of Thompson heading into this week’s pair of races on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course which will comprise the Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis Powered by Mazda.

Fellow Aussie Jordan Lloyd and Pabst Racing teammate Yufeng Luo, from China, both struggled in Alabama but will be looking to regain the form which saw them each claim a win and a second from the opening weekend of the 16-race season.

One of the pre-season favorites after finishing fourth in his rookie USF2000 campaign in 2015, Anthony Martin (Cape Motorsports), also from Australia, and Los Angeles-based Russian teammate Nikita Lastochkin are the only other two drivers to have finished among the top 10 in every race this year, but both are still searching for their first wins.

Other likely contenders from an extremely competitive field will include Team Pelfrey’s Robert Megennis, from New York, N.Y., already twice a podium finisher, 14-year-old English teammate Jordan Cane and 2013 New Zealand Formula Ford champion James Munro, plus Brazilian Victor Franzoni (ArmsUp Motorsports), Norwegian Ayla Agren (John Cummiskey Racing) and American Garth Rickards (Pabst).

Eric Filgueiras (Spencer Racing), from Cocoa Beach, Fla., will be looking to remain unbeaten in the National class, but will face opposition from Fat Boy Racing’s Brendan Puderbach and Charles Finelli, plus Californian Robert Armington (Tomasi Motorsports), who already has one Pacific F2000 Championship victory to his name this season, and Dale VandenBush of Arms Up Motorsports.

The USF2000 contenders will have plenty of track time this week, starting with a pair of 60-minute test sessions at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 11, then two more 30-minute practices on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Qualifying will be next at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, followed by Race One at 1:00 p.m. Race Two on Saturday, May 14, will take place immediately after the Verizon IndyCar Series warmup at 12:15 p.m. Live streaming shows of all sessions will be available on the Road To Indy TV App, as well as the series’ website, www.usf2000.com, and indycar.com.

About USF2000: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly-regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR and managed by Andersen Promotions, the series is the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system. The top driver in the Championship class will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Additional information can be found at www.usf2000.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, great-performing tires that people depend on for all of life's road trips, whether on city streets, off-road adventures or high-speed tracks. In fact, Cooper Tire is proud to sponsor and race in all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also been seen on the track as a sponsor of the IMSA Prototype Lites Series, and competing in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities in 11 countries around the world. This year, as we head into our second century in the tire industry, Cooper is looking toward a future where innovation will continue to drive our products and our products will continue to drive the world. To connect with Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/teamcoopertire.

@parkertracing • @usf2000 • @MazdaRacing • @BarberMotorPark •BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Canada’s Parker Thompson secured a clean sweep of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Alabama, capitalizing on his maiden victory yesterday and winning again this afternoon for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing to take the lead of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda after four of the season’s 16 races.

Australian Luke Gabin finished second for JAY Motorsports, while teenaged New Yorker Robert Megennis completed the podium with an impressive drive for Team Pelfrey after working his way up from 10th position on the starting grid.

Another Australian, Anthony Martin, started on the pole position for Cape Motorsports, but his advantage lasted only until the first corner where Thompson made a decisive move around the outside to claim the lead. Thompson was never again headed, although it was far from plain sailing for the 18-year-old from Red Deer, Alb.

After an early full-course caution when New Zealander James Munro (Team Pelfrey) and Cameron Das (JAY Motorsports), from Baltimore, Md., tangled in Turn Five, Thompson continued in the lead ahead of Gabin, yet another Australian, Jordan Lloyd (Pabst Racing) and Martin, who struggled with excessive understeer and quickly lost another position to Brazilian Victor Franzoni (ArmsUp Motorsports).

The race soon settled down with Thompson leading narrowly from Gabin, Lloyd, Franzoni and Martin, who were all very closely matched. On Lap 13, after a slight slip from Gabin in Turn Five, Lloyd made his challenge for second place heading into the Turn Eight/Nine complex. Their positions remained unchanged, but their loss of momentum allowed Franzoni to make a move on the entry to the fast, left-right chicane at Turns 10/11. Contact between Franzoni and Lloyd pitched the Brazilian’s car wildly into the air, although, incredibly, he was able to rejoin, albeit back in 12th position. Lloyd wasn’t so fortunate, as a punctured left-front tire pitched him heavily into the barriers at Turn 13 to ensure another full-course caution. Happily, he escaped injury.

Thompson stayed out front at the restart, which came with four laps remaining, and took the checkered flag just 1.1874 seconds in front of Gabin to complete his picture-perfect weekend. Winning team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape claimed the PFC Award, while Gabin took home the Staubli Award.

Megennis overtook Martin for third place on Lap 18 to complete the podium. Los Angeles-based Russian Nikita Lastochkin finished close behind his teammate Martin in fifth, with Ayla Agren (John Cummiskey Racing), Garth Rickards (Pabst Racing), Austin McCusker (Chastain Motorsports/Primus Racing), a recovered Franzoni and TJ Fischer (Team Pelfrey) completing the top 10. Clint McMahan snagged the Tilton Hard Charger Award for his 14th-place result after starting back in 20th for RJB Motorsports.

The next two rounds of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda will take place as part of the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis at the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit on May 12-14.

Parker Thompson (#2 Weyburn Energy-Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing): “I’m most proud of the win today because we started second. That’s not easy here but I got a great start and I didn’t make a mistake. It’s a huge confidence booster. I knew it was going to be difficult to get by Anthony but I knew I had to get it done early, on cold tires. He gave me room, which is awesome. I can’t thank Cape Motorsports enough, to help me come in and get pole and two wins. Yesterday was amazing but to get the win again today and to take maximum points is just fantastic. Anytime you sweep a weekend is great, when you’re looking back at the championship – it’s hard just to get wins, never mind sweeping a weekend. I’m just happy to be in the position I’m in, especially to get both wins, with the great drivers we have in this class.”

About USF2000: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly-regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR and managed by Andersen Promotions, the series is the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system. The top driver in the Championship class will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Additional information can be found at www.usf2000.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, great-performing tires that people depend on for all of life's road trips, whether on city streets, off-road adventures or high-speed tracks. In fact, Cooper Tire is proud to sponsor and race in all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also been seen on the track as a sponsor of the IMSA Prototype Lites Series, and competing in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities in 11 countries around the world. This year, as we head into our second century in the tire industry, Cooper is looking toward a future where innovation will continue to drive our products and our products will continue to drive the world. To connect with Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/teamcoopertire.

@parkertracing • @USF2000 •@BarberMotorPark •@MazdaRacing • @CooperTire • BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Second-year driver Parker Thompson blitzed the field today in the first of two races which will comprise the Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of Alabama this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.

Thompson, 18, from Red Deer, Alb., Canada, led throughout the 22-lap race en route to a long overdue maiden victory in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the first level on the Mazda Road to Indy open-wheel development ladder.

Thompson, a former standout in the karting ranks, qualified his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing Van Diemen-Mazda on the pole by a scant 0.0501 seconds, then made a perfect getaway to lead the 23-car field into Turn One.

Franzoni dived to the inside of Martin under braking to muscle his way through into second place in Turn Five on the opening lap. The Brazilian placed Thompson under a little bit of pressure for the first few laps before the young Canadian got into his stride, then inched away to an eventual winning margin of 4.2783 seconds.

Franzoni finished second for the second successive year at Barber, while Martin slipped back to a distant third, under intense pressure in the closing laps from fellow Australian Luke Gabin (JAY Motorsports). Gabin edged alongside his rival once on the exit of Turn Five with a lap and a half remaining but was unable to complete the pass and had to settle for his third consecutive top-five finish this season.

Yet another Australian, series leader Jordan Lloyd, couldn’t maintain the form that saw him score a win and a second from the opening two races at St. Petersburg last month. He nevertheless finished fifth to extend his championship lead to 12 points, 75-63, over Pabst Racing teammate Yufeng Luo, who qualified a lowly 19th but gained some consolation by earning the Tilton Hard Charger Award after making up five positions during the race.

Race winner Thompson added the Staubli Award to his day’s haul, while winning team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape claimed the PFC Award.

The green flag for Round Four of the USF2000 season will fly tomorrow at 5:35 p.m. CDT.

Parker Thompson(#2 Weyburn Energy-Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing): “I had a really good start and I needed that because if you leave the door open here, someone’s going to take it. I saw an orange car in my mirrors, which was Franzoni, so I knew I had to manage the gap. I pushed some, and got fastest lap, but I knew that if a late-race caution came out there were some aggressive drivers behind me that would take advantage. I had to make sure I still had enough Cooper Tire rubber under me and everything worked out perfectly. From my karting background, I love getting out there and making the pace and setting the field. When you’re out front and you can manage the race, especially here with limited passing lanes, you’re in control. We’re in this for the championship but my focus is to go out there tomorrow and run a clean race and not worry about anyone else.”

About USF2000: The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly-regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by INDYCAR and managed by Andersen Promotions, the series is the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system. The top driver in the Championship class will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Additional information can be found at www.usf2000.com.

About Mazda, Mazda Motorsports: Mazda Motorsports boasts the most comprehensive auto racing development ladder system of any auto manufacturer in the world. The Mazda Road to 24 program offers a number of scholarships to advance drivers up the sports car racing ladder, beginning with the Global MX-5 Cup series and culminating with the Mazda Prototype team. The Mazda Road to Indy is a similar program that includes Mazda-powered categories of USF2000, Pro Mazda and Indy Lights. In grassroots road racing, more Mazdas race on any given weekend in North America than any other manufacturer. Mazda is also the title sponsor of the renowned Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Follow all of the latest news at MazdaMotorsports.com, @MazdaRacing on Twitter, and MazdaMotorsports on Instagram and Facebook.

About Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, great-performing tires that people depend on for all of life's road trips, whether on city streets, off-road adventures or high-speed tracks. In fact, Cooper Tire is proud to sponsor and race in all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development program within the IndyCar racing series. Cooper tires can also been seen on the track as a sponsor of the IMSA Prototype Lites Series, and competing in the short course off-road TORC Series. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities in 11 countries around the world. This year, as we head into our second century in the tire industry, Cooper is looking toward a future where innovation will continue to drive our products and our products will continue to drive the world. To connect with Cooper Tire, visit www.coopertire.com, www.facebook.com/coopertire or www.twitter.com/teamcoopertire.